WATER Resources Development and Management minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo has urged residents to take advantage of the rains and harvest water especially in areas like Bulawayo where stringent water shedding was introduced last year. Report by Nduduzo Tshuma Staff Reporter
The city and surrounding areas have experienced heavy rainfall over the past few days.
Bulawayo is under a water- shedding regime that sees residents accessing tap water only three days in a week.
In a statement, Sipepa Nkomo said: “In light of the heavy rains recorded in the country over the past week and reports of further rains this week, the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management encourages residents across the country to harvest rain water so as to complement water supplies by local authorities.
“The ministry notes that this will ease pressure on local authorities’ water supplies, particularly in cities like Bulawayo and Harare where water supply is irregular.”
Sipepa Nkomo said water harvesting had financial gains to the nation at large as this meant low usage of the precious liquid from councils and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.
“The government remains committed to providing water as epitomised by various water resources development projects at various stages across the country,” he said.
The Mtshabezi-Umzingwane pipeline project, long planned as the short-term solution to Bulawayo’s water woes, was completed this month and has a capacity to supply 17 mega litres of water to the city.
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However, the project is of little significance given the low volumes of water in the Bulawayo supply dams.
